"We look for projects like Spinning Spur because, in addition to creating more renewable energy and strengthening the local economy, they also make for smart investments: they offer attractive returns relative to the risks and allow us to invest in a broad range of assets," Google said in a statement on its blog.

Links to offshore

Google's other energy investments include the Atlantic Wind Connection, an offshore grid that is planned to link 7,000 megawatts of offshore wind generation to the coast. The project is meant to advance offshore wind power along a 250-mile stretch of the Atlantic coast, from New Jersey to Virginia, Google said. The company has a 37.5 percent stake in the first phase of that project.

Google also has invested $280 million to create a fund meant to help finance residential solar installations through SolarCity.

SolarCity pays for the installation and maintenance of solar systems at homes, with customers prepaying or paying monthly lease payments to the company, according to Google.

11 such investments

The company has made 11 renewable energy investments since 2010.

"Altogether, the renewable energy projects we've invested in are capable of generating 2 gigawatts of power," Google said on its blog.

A gigawatt is 1,000 megawatts. One megawatt can power 500-700 average homes under normal conditions in Texas, or about 200 on the hottest days, the state's main grid operator estimates.

Electricity generated through the Spinning Spur wind farm has been contracted to SPS, a utility that serves Texas and New Mexico, Google said.